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Gavin Castleton

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Location: Portland, OR

Website: http://www.gavincastleton.com/

Bio: Gavin Castleton began making music at the age of three as a classically trained pianist. At fourteen he began studying jazz with David Azarian. At ... (more) fifteen he formed his first band, "Subgenius," and played his first live show (a friend's birthday party). Shortly thereafter he and some friends formed "futurock" band Gruvis Malt, and from 1995 to 2004 they toured the US and released nine recordings (one with Warner subsidiary Lakeshore Records, and the other eight independently). When Gruvis Malt stopped touring in 2004, Gavin embarked on a solo career, releasing four full-length records, three EPs, and embarked on numerous national tours in just three years. Somewhere in there he formed action-adventure rock trio Ebu Gogo and doubled his itinerary with shows to support the two full-length Ebu Gogo albums they released in 2007 and 2008. He has produced a handful of records by other artists, made numerous guest appearances on records both foreign and domestic (he recently debuted in the UK with his collaboration with IK7 recording artist Stateless, the 7" inch “Window 23/Great White Whale”), and tinkered with various remixes (most recently, Myspace recording artist Meiko). He's won Best Electronica/DJ Act three years in a row in the Providence Phoenix, where he lived unitl this year when he moved to Portland, OR.

From 2006 to 2007, Gavin Castleton released 4 unique solo recordings:

Grace Land: this full-length record features the first-person narrative of a very eccentric 32-year old Staple worker who is obsessed with Seinfeld, workplace minutia, and the confusing sexual policies of the girl he claims to be dating. The record was featured on NPR's Open Mic program.

Hospital Hymns: a five song narrative chronicling a day in the life of a 76 year-old hospital stock room worker with a penchant for eccentric spirituality that makes his co-workers uncomfortable. "Hymn 2: Women's Care in E Flat Major" won Best Song in the Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll in 2007.

A Bullet, A Lever, A Key: this seven song EP tells the story of his Gavin Castleton's future – from his presumed suicide in a RI hotel room in 2054 to present day 2007, in the backroom of a club just before he goes on stage. It is a reverse tragedy of sorts with a motivational message; think Momento meets The Fountainhead.

For the Love of Pete: a full length album of love songs. Though originally given to his girlfriend alone at various benchmarks of their time together, these 12 songs have been made excavated to deliver an honest, warm and palpable cross section of the 6-year relationship. For the Love of Pete (with an additional import b-side) will be released in October 2008 by Sideout Records in Japan.

Gavin has just finished the most comprehensive solo record of his life, Home. The album is due out on Five One Inc. in early 2009, and is far to0 massive to fit into a paragraph. It's a pop opera. It has zombies and ladybugs in it. (less)